“The man should be speaking to police about his attempted provocation, not addressing my board.”
Evelyn sat opposite her.
“The police have the Starbucks footage.”
“I have already offered to resolve that misunderstanding.”
“You offered the barista $50,000 for the original recording.”
Serafina turned toward one of her lawyers.
He looked down.
Evelyn nodded to me.
“Mr.
Mercer, tell us about the Meridian report.”
I did not give a speech.
I gave dates.
I explained when the defect was found, which modules were affected, who received my warnings, and how the equipment was removed after the fire.
Ronan confirmed that he had photographed the units before a Valent contractor loaded them into an unmarked truck.
Serafina interrupted twice.
The third time, Evelyn said, “You will have your turn.”
“I am the chief executive of this company.”
“For the moment.”
The room changed after that.
Ronan connected his laptop to the wall screen.
The first image showed the battery module with a scorched thermal regulator.
The second showed my report in Serafina’s executive briefing packet.
The third was an email from Serafina to general counsel, sent four hours before the fundraiser.
Delay is not an option.
Remove the warning from guest materials and proceed.
Serafina stood.
“That message has been taken out of context.”
“What context makes it acceptable?” Evelyn asked.
“The system had passed preliminary testing.”
“It failed Daniel Mercer’s inspection.”
“He was one engineer.”
“I was the engineer who designed the emergency thermal cutoff,” I said.
Serafina looked at me for the first time since the meeting began.
“You were unstable after the fire.”
“My arm had third-degree burns.”
“You violated orders.”
“To save your child.”
Her face tightened.
“Do not use my daughter against me.”
A voice came from the doorway.
“He isn’t.”
Livia Vale entered the boardroom.
She was thirteen now, tall and pale, wearing a school uniform beneath a winter coat.
Serafina’s assistant hurried behind her, apologizing to everyone.
Serafina stared.
“You should be at school.”
“I saw the video.”
“This does not involve you.”
Livia walked to the screen, where the photograph of me carrying her through the hotel doors remained visible.
“It has involved me since I was seven.”
She turned to me.
“You told me to count.”
I could not speak.
“You had a black watch,” she continued.
“The second hand was orange.
